Got A Gripe? Blame Renters

GARY STEIN

October 30, 1985|By Gary Stein, Staff writer

It is starting to look to me as if the anti-renter movement in west Broward needs some help.

As you are aware, renters and rental units are not among the most well-loved items in west Broward. You get the impression there are a lot of condo and home owners in Broward who would prefer that renters go elsewhere. Like Kuala Lumpur, perhaps.

Residents of Tamarac recently packed City Hall to oppose a rental complex that they thought would harm their city. Such protest efforts against rental housing have taken place in just about every west Broward community except Weston.

Tamarac certainly is persistent in its efforts to try to stem the tide of creeping rentalism. Five times since 1973, Tamarac has tried to stop developers from building apartment complexes, and five times the city has lost in court. Tamarac is on a bigger losing streak than the St. Louis Cardinals.

But the real problem in Tamarac and west Broward, as I see it, is a lack of good excuses. They simply need some better complaints to lodge against renters. Residents fearful of renters have worn out their old complaints. They blame renters for lower property values. They blame renters for higher crime rates. They blame them for turning the neighborhood into a slum. Renters haven`t been blamed for the Mexican earthquake yet, but you never know what might happen at a council meeting in west Broward.

Personally, I have been renting ever since I came to Broward. And I know a lot of young (I still consider myself young, friends) people who prefer to rent rather than buy, or have to rent for various reasons.

My complex, for the most part, is kept up very well. There is no terror in the streets. There is law and order, even though there are no commandos watching my every move with binoculars and a 2-inch-thick rule book.

But then, I do not have renter paranoia. Others obviously do.

I have nothing against people who own condos. Some of my best friends own condos. And I probably wouldn`t mind living next door to condo owners, if they kept quiet.

But a lot of condo owners apparently have something against those of us who prefer to rent.

I think this trend against renters and rental units will continue.

And, just in case condo owners run out of terrible things to blame renters for, I am offering help.

When all the old complaints fail to have any impact in court, and condo owners fear renters may indeed pollute the neighborhood, perhaps they can try to blame renters for:

The complete collapse of the Dolphin defense.

Too much violence and sex on television.

Hurricane Juan.

Not enough violence and sex on television.

The University of Florida football scandal.

The overcrowding of Broward jails.

The demise of the Jefferson department stores.

The increase in premarital sex.

Dandruff.

Watergate.

Disgusting bathtub ring.

The proliferation of gross-out contests at The Button.

Construction delays on Interstate 595.

The nuclear weapons buildup.

Beach erosion.

The demise of the International Gold Bullion Exchange.

The deterioration of the Statue of Liberty.

The disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa.

Pimples.

Kristy McNichol movies.

Tooth decay and unsightly plaque.

The earthquake in Mexico.

Let`s see . . . have I forgotten anything else that owners can try to blame on renters?